From April through September, baseball is considered an old, aging game. The day-in, day-out ground of a marathon 162-game season simply doesn’t contain enough highlights to hold the attention of the average American, quick to rely on bone-rattling games of football and high-flying basketball contests. Moments like Game 6 of the 2011 World Series serve as reminders that, when the stakes are at their highest, baseball’s excitement can’t be matched as the St. Louis Cardinals triumphed 10-9 over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

What happened between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers was legendary. Clutch hitting and terrible fielding combined to create the kind of game that should be accompanied by a dramatic orchestra lacing the soundtrack. David Freese, the Cardinal’s hometown hero, put in a game that will go down as one of the greatest performances in baseball history.

Two times the Texas Rangers were within a strike – a single strike – of capturing their first ever World Series title. And two times, third basemen Freese torched them. Down 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth with one out and two men on, Freese laced a triple into right field, one that, at first glanced, appeared destined for an out. Nelson Cruz, the Texas rightfielder who earlier in the game tied an MLB post-season record with his eighth home run, simply couldn’t reach the ball, watching it careen off the right field wall as Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman tied the game.

Two innings later, Freese finished branding the game his own. His team had rallied to tally two runs in the bottom of the tenth and with the score tied at nine in the bottom of the 11th, he laced a shot to dead-center field, one that cleared the wall by a solid ten-to-fifteen feet. David Freese lived a game that few would even dream of having swinging a metal bat as ten-year-olds, so storybook was it. His Cardinal teammates proceeded to rip the jersey off of his back, strangers in St. Louis hugged in the streets and, nine months from now, a high number of boys named “David” to be born in Missouri.

Projections are out the window. Baseball is great. Tune in at 8 PM for the last game of the 2011 season.

The biggest moment of the game is when they walked pujos only to get the next batter who has been hot the whole series…stupid move. but i was cheering when they did it because i knew we’d have a chance. STLCARDS baby!!!

Someone texted me about this earlier today. Not gonna lie, it was the first I’d heard that the World Series was occuring. To me baseball is on that WNBA level. Im always shocked to hear that its the playoffs or the finals.

“when the stakes are at their highest, baseball’s excitement cant be matched”
==========================
personally disagree but also just from an intensity and excitement stand point. Ill take an NBA game 7, soccer final, super bowl, hockey game seven, or sunday on the links where its tied or close going into the back 9 over any baseball game 7. I mean there just isnt much excitement to watching fat dudes stand on a field while they watch another fat dude throw a ball to/at/away from yet another fat dude. Theres no real athleticism involved, the only thing you really need to be able to do to be considered good is catch, hit, OR throw while standing still. Sorry baseball fans, it had to be said…. again.

That was THE ONLY DECISION to make. Not a stupid move. If Fat Elvis (Berkman, for those who don’t know) beats you, ok. But you CAN NOT let Pujols take swings. He is one of the Gods of Baseball right now. And the only thing you would hear after, is people questioning Ron Washington, “Why didn’t you walk Pujols?”